The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-03-11

ClAsped her to his heart In gadness.
ssThcn the night lacked nothing more!
.-Tetuple Bar. III. g. GIFFoRD.
MISS MARCIA'S VALENTINE.
by MARY ,cURRIER PARSONS.
For the Yankee Blade.
1t was ouch a cosy kitchen. Tho
yellow painted floor and wood work
reminded one Of continual sunshine.
The tall, old-fashioned dresser, with
its rows OF blue and white dell, stood
in one corner OF the roomy apart
ment; directly opposite an old style
dining-table with bright red cover,
two or three well worn books and O
vase OF dried aowers and grasses.
a braidedsa ug before this table. up.
on which, purring placidly, sat
an enormous yellow and
white cat, lending an additional
air OF comfort. Between the two
windows which lighted and flooded
the room with sunshine, stood Y q
small table covered with coarse,
white cloth, and laid with one plate,
one cup and saucer. q
Z A savory smell from a bubbling ket-
tie betokened thatsdinner was in pro-
cess OF preparation, while bustling
from stove to table, now peering anx-
ionsly into the kettle and tasting the
contents witha tork, then replacing
tho cover, Miss Marcia paused ut last
upon the braided rug, and said, appar-
emily, TO the cat:
IL declare it seems so lonely to sit
down by myself day after day to the
table; wish somes one would. come
in nito-day to take dinner with me. l
might get some girl to stay with me.
/ suppose plenty OF them in town
would be glad of the chance; ~sut
young girls are bother, always mess.
ing round and breaking dishes. No,-I
guess Pm better off without one.
But do get dreadful lonesome, and
that's fact"
For thirty -fiyeyears Marcia Hillman
had lived in this gray old farmhouse,
which was once filled to oyerhowing
with q merry, noisy brood OF younger
brothers and sisters, now since the
marriage OF the sons and daughter OF
tho household. and the death OF her
parents sometimes seemed lonely to
the eldest daughter.
To be sure, the neighbors were life
long friends, and Jonas, her brother,
lived only two miles distant, still it
was daily home companionship for
which Miss Hillman longed.
No one In the village dreamed that
| she was not the most contented spin
ster in buxton. Happy as Marcia
Hillman," was an oft repeated saying.
She derived "a comfortable living
from the small farm bequeathed to her
by her father and was considered well
to do by her acquaintance and neigh
bors.
A loud stamping OF snow-burdened
feet and a knock at the door caused
Miss Marcia to pause in her occupa-
tion OF dinner getting,
~ guess it must be Jonas, He said
he'd bring me some sweet apples this
week." and opening the door she be.
held, not Jonas but Deacon Apple,
yard, q neighbor, who lived about q
mile distant.
"Why, how do you do, deacon? It's
q bitter cold day. Sit right up by the
| fire. Been to town, / see."
The deacon, q timid appearing mar
about forty years OF age, took the
1 offered chair and after re
moving his heavy mittens and un
winding long red comforter from his
| neck, took from his pocket a letter
and a paper and handed them to Miss
Marcia, with the remark:
~ was down to the office and iona.
asked me to bring these to you. H,
said that nobody had been after you
mail this wesk.'''
1.-THE letters from Sarah, guess
and I'm glad you brought that ant
the paper. / didn't get the Messenge
last week and | tell you Imissed read
| ing it. When o body is all soul alone
paper is q sight OF company"
4 "Yes, that's fact. You don'tlool
very lonesome here, though. This il
one OF the sunniest, pleasantest kitch
ems in Duxton."
| eyes, it's pleasant enough, but th'
weather has been so cold lately it kint
OF gives me the blues. Why you aim
q going now," as Deacon Appleyart
prepared to put on his comforter anc
mittens.
4 DINNER is most ready, and ] wa
just wishing that some one Woult
como in to tako dinner with me. i
seems so foolish to make ~ chicken
pot pie lust for myself. Do take OF
/ your overcoat and stay to dinner"
1 "Well, don't know. thought II
be home by dinner time"
| "Oh, Hepsy won't expect you hom
from town yet. You'd better stay.
"Hepsy amt there no more. Sh
went home two weeks yesterday. Sh
amt going to work out no more, sh
says. I've been keeping old batcl
since she left, and don't find house
keening very easy work." he remark
ed, taking off his shabby overcoat
and placing it on the back OF chair
then seating himself again.
1 Deacon Appleyard watched Mis-
Marcia with admiration as she dishe'
the savory pot pie mashed turnip
and potatoes, and drew from th
oven. crisp brown and spieily fragrant
| his favorite delicacy, plummy minc
pie. .
4 How comfortable, clean and invit
| ing WAS this snug, cozy kitchen; hoy
tempting was the dinner table. Ho,
very differnt it all seemed from tn
| forlorn disorder of his own home
How he did wish he dared-but q
this point in his reflection he wa
i startled from his meditation by Mis-
| Marcia telling him dinner was ready
4 Never had the deacon more thorough
| ly enjoyed a dinner; the delicate chick
en- pie, fragrant coffee, the delightful,
clean kitchen, all made a return t,
i his own home seem more desolate.
f After chatting a short time afte
| dinner, he took his leave, carryin
with him q pleasant picture OF tn
/ CHEEKY room, and above all Of trim
Miss Marcia with her nest, brown
calico, snowy collar and lpssy ~''''
If ds,I '...>.s :, II u.a" - 4sv